This is a surprising little book that tells us many things: that simple stories can carry a powerful message, that some themes are eternal and that some truths should be constantly re-told. In our own age of fake news, ruthless competition and mindless violence, it is good to be reminded that there are other quieter but no less powerful forces at work – love, truth, nature for example.
The book is essentially a love story between a young man of peasant stock (Arthur) and the daughter of a lord (Gwendolyn) which prevails in the end, as indeed it should. But along the way it deals with themes such as friendship and rejection, community, conservation of our resources and adapting to change. When Arthur and Gwendolyn are reunited after a period of five years, both they and their environment have changed but by keeping to their basic beliefs, they win through.
Beautifully written, with its combinations of magic and realism such as this:
‘Eventually the wind realised that he was being regarded as a threat and he changed tactics, becoming gentle and helpful. He brought in winds from the south with smells of the sea and the aroma of herbs. He was an expert at rainmaking and over the course of the following year he made sure to provide exactly the right amount of water that ensured the best harvest anyone could remember. The sandy wastes around the castle grew fertile, crops flourished and the people living in the garrison grew fat and content.’
And spirituality and humanity:
‘After several years, Arthur came across a man whom he learned to love and trust, a man who had become part of his surroundings. He lived off mushrooms, berries and vegetables he had planted in a fertile glade near to his cave. Arthur had observed him for days before deciding to approach, but when he eventually presented himself the old man roared with laughter and said: I was wondering when you would come out. You’ve been hiding in that bush for days and my bird friends tell me you are quite mad. I like mad people and so you are welcome to my abode.’
It reminded me of Paolo Coelho’s writings, such as ‘The Alchemist’. When I put this to the author, this was his reply:
I’ve been inspired by things over the years (including the Alchemist). We are all full of knowledge, impressions, quotes, memories, lessons, stories — going all the way back to the nursery. Every one of us is like a walking Wikipedia, but we are totally unaware of this — at least I was. It was only when I wrote this fairy tale that I realised how much “content” I have stashed away in the archives, all ready to come out when needed.
So, is there a place for the modern fairy tale as a niche genre in the crowded shelves of modern fiction? I think so myself and again, I put this to the author:
If you’re aware of the subconscious, fairy tales and fiction are good ways to engage it. The same could be said for any art form but, for me, writing is the easiest of them and the only one I can do with any competence. I treat life as a mystery in that I don’t need to understand everything (or anything) and it means I just deal with each challenge as it comes and very much live in the present.
It seems strange to me that some newspapers and journals won’t review self-published work although there are some wonderful books out there. Perhaps that will change before long. This is an e-book and I hope that one day soon it will be published in paperback form – it would make a nice present.
These days, there are not so many books that one can recommend to both adults and children, but this is certainly one. You could say that it is ‘of all ages and for all ages’.
I’m the author of this fairy tale and I would just like to add that the cover artwork, part of which you can see above, was done by my multi-talented brother GAVIN.